Kissing Magic

by Day Leitao

  Darian and Cayla were engaged, and about to tell the kingdom and the rest of the world that their hearts belonged to each other. They still needed to have another important conversation about their relationship, but, with so many things happening at once, that was left for later.

  16

  The Ball

  With only seven people in the castle, someone, probably Sian, decided to have a ball. It was one of the stupidest ideas Karina had ever heard, but she avoided rolling eyes and laughing as much as possible. The bath was adjoint to the bedroom, and it was Aline who watched her this time, behind a thin curtain. It was weird to realize that such an old castle had running water, but it did. Then, the furniture didn't look old, so it couldn't have been abandoned for millenia. Perhaps other people had lived here in recent times. The lights, on the other hand, were different from other parts in Whyland. They had those sticks with the brilliant orange-yellow top, like she’d seen near the Junction.

  Karina chased away thoughts of Sian and Raja spending time together while she bathed. It was not worth it. She got out and noticed she also had more clothes in the closet. They had probably been ordered at the store where Karina had been measured. Mostly pants and shirts, a couple jackets. Nice. There was a fancy blue dress on the bed, but Karina decided to dress in brown leathers.

  Aline stared at her up and down. “You look good, of course. Obviously. But usually… we wear dresses for balls.”

  “Oh, are Sian and Joel wearing dresses?”

  Aline shook her head. “No. Only women.”

  Karina suppressed a sneer and pretended disappointment. “That’s not fair.”

  Aline still looked at her up and down. “Er, uh, but they have special suits.”

  Karina stared at herself in the mirror. Badass. Tough. Rough. Of course, it was only on the outside, but maybe dressing the part would help her become the part. Not really. She remembered her friend Zoe telling her how cute she was, Malena pinching her cheeks. With her young-looking face, she looked like a kid or preteen in a Halloween costume. Cute. For once she hated that word. Whatever. Her outfit was a start.

  Aline insisted, “That dress is so beautiful.”

  Karina didn’t want to be told what to wear. Angry, annoyed, lonely and betrayed, she snapped. “I wear whatever I want.”

  “Yes, your highness.”

  Karina blinked. “What did you just call me?”

  Aline crossed her arms. “I was told to make you look like a princess. If you’re not going to look the part, maybe we can pretend the part.”

  “Actually,” Karina gestured to herself, “I think these clothes would be totally Cayla’s style.” She smiled. “I do look like a princess.”

  “Not in a ball.”

  Karina shrugged. Raja entered. She was wearing a beautiful burgundy velvet dress, her hair carefully curled, and she wore makeup. She grimaced when she saw Karina. “You still aren’t dressed?”

  Aline rolled her eyes. “She says she is ready. Well, I’m done here.” She left.

  Raja approached Karina, and pointed at the dress on the bed. “Why don’t you at least try it? If you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it. Promise.”

  Karina shrugged. “What’s the point? It’s just us.”

  “But that’s the point. A mini-ball is an occasion to dress up, to show everyone how beautiful you are.”

  “Maybe you want to impress someone. I don’t.”

  “It’s not about impressing anyone.” Raja said. “It’s feeling beautiful.”

  “I don’t need a dress to feel beautiful.”

  “No kidding.” Raja sighed. “So you’re going to tell me that you don’t care at all, I mean, not even just a little bit, about what any of us thinks about the way you look?”

  “I don’t give a crap about what Sian thinks, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “I don’t give a crap,” Raja mimicked Karina. “Look at yourself.” She made a mocking voice. “Oooooh, I’m prettier than everyone, I don’t need to dress up.”

  That was ridiculous. But Karina just shrugged. “What can I do? I’m nice and I don’t want to outshine you guys.”

  Raja sighed and stared at her. “You want to know something? You don’t deserve that dress, this castle, or any of his attention. You’re rude, aloof, ungrateful, and you don’t deserve any of that.”

  “I don’t even want it. You can have it all.”

  Raja had a puzzled face. “What do you mean?”

  Karina rolled her eyes. “Nothing, Raja, nothing. It’s not like I haven’t noticed you and Sian.” Karina could also be honest when she wanted.

  The girl frowned for a moment, then she had a satisfied smile. “Oh. Interesting, very interesting.”

  She left the room. Karina exhaled slowly. For once she could have some peace. This could perhaps be the opportunity to sneak out and try to discover something. No, not right now. Someone would soon return to her room. She was feeling like a prisoner. It didn’t matter. She’d carry her plan in the evening, find out what she had to find out, and go home. Karina knew Sian wanted something from her, and she wasn’t going to give it to him. It was her best revenge against him playing with her heart.

  Karina sat on the bed, surprised at how much time had passed, and stared at the dress. It was made of dark blue velvet, with some complex embroidery, but it was subtle. The skirt was made of light fabric in asymmetric layers. Delicate, but not too much. Fine, the dress was absolutely awesome, and she’d love to wear it, but there was only one person in that castle who could have picked something so beautiful, and Karina was furious at him right now.

  Someone knocked on the door. Karina opened and saw Sian. He wasn’t all lacey as she’d imagined he’d be. He was wearing a thick long overcoat, of course, but it was leather and simple, over a shirt that wasn’t as loose as the previous ones. Yes, that looked nice—as always.

  He looked at her up and down and smiled. “You’re beautiful.”

  Oh, he could at least pretend to be disappointed. Karina pointed to him, then to herself. “Right script, wrong costume.”

  He stared at her. “You’re perfect.”

  He was amazing at pretending. But so was Karina, who wasn’t going to show him any of her feelings. She pointed at him. “What’s this outfit? The twentieth you’ve worn since I came?”

  Sian frowned. “The sixth!”

  Karina couldn’t suppress her laughter. “Did you actually count?”

  Sian shrugged. “I know what I wear.” He looked around the room. “Wait. Who’s with you?”

  “You.”

  “Did they leave you alone? Alone?”

  “Seriously, Sian, didn’t you say no kyons would come here?”

  His tone was angry. “Who left you alone?”

  He would keep asking, it would get annoying, it was better to say it. “Raja.”

  Sian closed his eyes. “Of course.”

  Duh, they were together. No kidding.

  He bit his lip. “I’m an idiot, idiot.”

  “Self-aware, though.”

  Sian shook his head. “I’m sorry for my… friend. She can be immature sometimes. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have trusted her. But please don’t let that happen again. You mustn’t stay alone in this castle.”

  “It’s me, right? Only me. And you’re not going to tell me why. Plus you know what? I feel like a prisoner. What are you going to do next? Chain me to the bed?”

  He glanced at the bed, then back at her, and frowned. “Would you want me to?” He shrugged. “I mean, I don’t mind. Whatever you want.”

  Was he suggesting what Karina was actually thinking he was suggesting? She tried to pierce him with her stare. “What are you talking about?”

  He scratched his neck. “Nope. Not something you’d like. Noted.”

  Hilarious. Karina ignored the attempt at… whatever he was attempting. “I don’t want people following me all around this castle anymore. I want to go home and be free.”

  He s
norted. “Free.” He sounded bitter. “You know we have things to solve.”

  “How’s a ball going to help?”

  Sian smiled. “By lifting our spirits while we wait for the opportunity to figure it all out.” He stood by her side and offered his arm.

  “I’m not taking it.”

  He dropped his arm. “Fine.” He then pretended to pick something on his flawless jacket.

  Karina shrugged and smiled. “No answers, no arm.”

  Sian tilted his head. “That’s fair.”

  “Of course it isn’t! I was attacked and I need answers and a solution. It doesn’t compare to taking your arm just to pretend something that doesn’t even exist.”

  “Patience, Karina, that’s all I’m asking. And you don’t have to take my arm if you don’t want to.”

  His voice was smooth, calming, soothing, comforting. She felt at ease and her anger faded. Not enough to take his arm, but she wasn’t as anxious as before. Karina smiled. “Fine. Let’s go.”

  They went upstairs to the sixth floor. One thing that castle needed desperately was an elevator. They were not above the bedrooms, but on the side opposite to the purple room. They approached a huge black door, which opened by itself, bringing in a beautiful melody.

  Karina gasped in surprise. The ballroom was dark, except for silver sparkles on the floor and blue stars hung from the ceiling. Silver stars made of paper or some other very light material floated around the room, like in a recently shaken snow globe. Two of the walls were made of glass, from where she could see the sky outside and the woods. There was something ethereal and otherworldly about the room.

  Sian grinned. “You like it?”

  Karina had to concede. “It’s beautiful.”

  Everyone was there. Raja, Aline, Joel, Georgia, Matheo. The castle caretakers danced in the center, in very elegant clothes. Raja and Aline sat on fluffy couches while Joel stood by a table, filling a glass. Karina walked to the table with Sian. There were many types of appetizers. Karina wasn’t hungry, but she took a glass of juice and sat near Aline and Raja. Sian was left talking to Joel, soon joined by Georgia and Matheo. Karina enjoyed the music. Sian approached them and gestured for Raja to follow him. Karina pretended she didn’t notice or care, but from the corner of her eye, they appeared to be arguing.

  Sian came back and asked Karina to follow him. She joined Raja on a corner.

  The girl took a deep breath, then addressed Karina. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you—”

  “It’s fine. You don’t have to apologize,” Karina said.

  “Ah, ah,” Sian turned to Karina. “If you don’t need an apology, great, but it’s her duty to apologize. For me.”

  Karina rolled her eyes but wasn’t sure anyone saw it, as it was dark.

  Raja continued in a robotic voice, “As I was saying, I shouldn’t have left you alone. I further apologize I was offended you didn’t want to wear the dress. It was not my place to be upset or not.” She turned to Sian. “Happy?”

  He stared. “You think that was convincing?”

  Raja sighed. “No.” She turned to Karina. “I’ll be honest then. Refusing a gift is a huge insult here in Whyland. But it wasn’t my gift to be angry about, so please ignore me.”

  Karina shrugged. “Ignored.”

  “Also,” Raja continued, “in my anger burst, I completely forgot you shouldn’t be left alone. I forgot. It was an honest mistake. I won’t repeat it.”

  “Pity,” Karina muttered to herself.

  Sian stared at Raja, jaw tight. “That was slightly better. Thank you.”

  Raja exhaled and walked away. What was the point of that? Pretending. It was all a big pretense. That gorgeous ballroom was a theater stage, and Karina was…not an actress, no; a puppet. Let them think so.

  Sian turned to her. “Does that make up for today?”

  “You think I wanted an insincere apology?”

  Sian exhaled slowly, then stared at her. “What do you want?”

  “I thought you were smart. Figure it out.”

  Karina turned around and walked back to the table with the food and drinks. Aline stood by her side. Her dress was tight fit with a short skirt. She pointed to some red balls on the table. “Those are really good.”

  “Nah, not hungry.”

  Aline laughed and grabbed one. “More for me, then.”

  Karina laughed.

  Aline took a bite, swallowed it, then made a circular gesture with her free arm. “So, what do you think?”

  “This place is amazing.” She grabbed one of the small silver stars. “How do they float?”

  Aline finished her bite quickly. “Magnets.” She looked around. “Wouldn’t it be fun to see this room filled with people?”

  “I guess.”

  Aline walked to a fluffy couch where she sat by Joel. Karina sat at her other side, a little uncomfortable at being third wheel. That didn’t last long, though, because Joel pulled Aline to the center and they started dancing.

  Sian appeared at Karina’s side and extended his hand. “Come.”

  “Not in the mood.”

  Sian sat by her. Karina noticed Aline and Joel, how they looked at each other, how he pulled her body closer and closer to his. Would anyone ever hold her like that? But she wanted it to be for real, not a performance. Georgia and Matheo were also dancing.

  Raja stood by Karina and Sian. “So? You’re the only ones left sitting.” She stared at them both. “Are you dancing or not?”

  “As you can see, I’m sitting,” Karina said.

  Raja tilted her head. “I do see that. I’m going to steal Sian then.”

  She pulled his hand and he went to the middle of the room with her.

  All right. Wallflower. That was definitely Karina. She was glad she wasn’t wearing that stupid dress because being alone always looked better when people thought you didn’t care. Here she was, tough, blasé Karina, who absolutely didn’t wish she were the one Sian liked. Nope. At least she could pretend. Karina got up and got another drink. She turned and watched the couples. Raja pulled Sian tight. They turned, and she stared straight at Karina, as if daring her or trying to see her reaction. Karina held the stare in a neutral, uninterested face. In fact, she stared at the back of the room and the door behind them. The other couples left the floor, but Raja held Sian’s hands, and they started another dance.

  Karina saw Georgia and Matheo approaching the table and she walked to them, asking about how they prepared it all. Matheo was happy to talk about his culinary creations, explaining with delight how he’d spent the afternoon preparing the food for the ball. They told her they were going to work for Sian for one year, and after that they were going to open a restaurant. With Sian’s help, of course. Apparently Sian was very good at spotting and investing in talent. This was getting annoying. Karina had meant to talk about food and forget the jerk who had pretended to like her, and instead, she was hearing what an amazing boss and smart investor he was. But Karina kept listening because she was out of options. Who was she going to talk to? Raja; nope. Aline thought Sian was perfect. Maybe Joel was normal, but she would never know, since he never even looked in her direction. Forget normal, the dude was weird. And weirder was Karina because her horrific conclusion was that Sian was her favorite person there. That was screwed up.

  Karina forced herself to ignore her wandering thoughts and focused on the couple in front of her. There was something beautiful in their bright eyes and big dreams. Georgia then told her about the decorations and explained the effects of the floating stars. She slipped some “your highness” and Karina figured that it was the way people addressed their superiors. Whatever. Karina took another juice and was relieved to find herself alone by the food table.

  Joel, Aline, Raja, and Sian sat around a small circular table. Raja whispered something on Sian's ear. He glanced at Karina. Their eyes met. She looked away then turned around to look at all the food as if she were choosing something. Raja had been obviously talking
about Karina. The question was what or why. Maybe the girl was feeling scorned because she had been forced to apologize, and came up with a nasty remark or something.

  “You’re not eating.” It was Sian, standing next to her.

  Karina was startled. “Neither are you.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You noticed. Impressive.”

  “I happen to notice stuff.” She stared at him, then turned to the food.

  Sian remained quiet for a while, then said, “I know what you want.”

  “Do you?”

  “Come outside.” He then whispered in her ear. “I’ll tell you about the castle. What I know at least.”

  Finally.

  17

  Floating Stars

  Karina followed Sian through a curtain towards a balcony attached to the ballroom. As they approached the edge, Karina noticed what she was facing and her bones chilled: it was that cursed garden. She stepped back. The cool air made her shiver.

  “It's cold. Couldn’t you tell me inside?”

  “You don’t like the air? What about the stars?”

  As they were far from any artificial light, the sky was indeed amazing. The stars were different from what she was used to seeing at home, but perhaps this was just Earth’s southern hemisphere. She could indeed spend a long time looking at it if the temperature had been warmer and if they weren’t facing that garden.

  “It’s cold. And this garden, I don’t like it.”

  “Why do you dislike it?”

  All Karina remembered was fear, but she never liked to confess fear. “Disappointment. Tell me quickly then.”

  He sighed. “This is a long conversation. Let’s go inside.”

  They walked in and nobody else was there. Karina looked around. “What happened?”

  “They left.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m sure you can guess,” Sian whispered in her ear.

  He didn’t have to whisper; they were alone. His hands were on her shoulders. Her heart pounded, as he slid his hands to her waist and pulled her closer. Karina liked it. She liked it. He moved one of his hands to her chin, pulled it up, and moved in to kiss her.